Realtor view: Final walk-through a must before signing on the dotted line

By Cindy Hamann

Published 9:57 am, Friday, October 6, 2017

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Cindy Hamann

Cindy Hamann

Realtor view: Final walk-through a must before signing on the dotted line

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Buying a home is exciting, and with a couple of days before closing, there's just one thing left to do - a final walk-through inspection of the property.

This allows you to reconfirm the condition of the house prior to closing. Don't neglect performing this final task. Before you grab your pen and head to the closing table, spend the scheduled time with your Realtor to make sure everything is in order.

The purpose of the final walk-through, which can take place anywhere from two days to a few hours before closing, is to make sure the property is in the condition you expected when you signed the purchase agreement. This includes verifying that all agreed-upon repairs have been made, no damage has been done to the property, and all items included in the sales price - draperies, light fixtures, fans, appliances, sheds, etc. - are present and in satisfactory condition.

Much can happen from the time your offer was accepted until closing - especially if the property has been vacant for long period of time. Uninhabited houses can fall into disrepair quickly if they're neglected. In addition, although unfortunate, vandalism and theft can take place in unoccupied houses. It may be vandals breaking windows, people seeking shelter, or thieves checking for anything of value, such as copper.

Even if the house has been occupied, you should not skip the walk-through. What if the seller removed a ceiling fan or left junk in the attic? What if a wall or the floor was damaged when the seller was moving out? The bottom line is it pays to do this walk-through so you know what you are purchasing.

Many sellers willingly fix problems they may have overlooked in the chaos of moving or during the time a home was vacant. It's beneficial for both parties to proceed with the transaction - and that's important to consider. Any snags with completing the exchange can add time and cost everyone money.

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Delays may be more than just an inconvenience to both parties, though. As a buyer, you may have a lock on an attractive interest rate that is set to expire. The seller might not be able to buy their next home because they need the proceeds from this home sale to finalize the deal on their new home.

In some cases, the seller may still be in the process of moving out and actually could be there during your final walk-through. If this is the case, you may be able to get some valuable information from them. They may offer the product manuals for appliances, or suddenly remember a useful tip about the house or neighborhood. See if you can get the contact information of any businesses or contractors who have done work on the property.

When you show up to the walk-through, you should have a copy of your purchase agreement, the seller's disclosure form and reports about any work that was done as a part of the contract. It also may help to have a friend or your spouse with you. If two heads are better than one, then four eyes are better than two.

If you do find something unexpected, talk to your Realtor. You never want it to delay your closing.